Wednesday, October 5, 2011

IT'S TERRIER TIME!

Terrier enthusiasts look forward to this week all year, as it culminates in that Mecca for the dogs bred to hunt pests, the Montgomery County Kennel Club show. This year’s iteration is the 77th gathering of the world’s best Terriers. The entry of 1638 dogs is lead by the West Highland White Terriers with 139, followed closely by our breed, the Cairn Terriers, with 124, Soft Coated Wheatens with 119, Scottish Terriers with 111, and Norwich Terriers with 110.

We expect an especially tough contest this year. Unlike the past two years when we had a couple of Terriers finish as the Number One Dog All Breeds, no one Terrier has dominated the scene. Here are the current Top Five Terriers in All Breed competition.

The Smooth Fox Terrier, GCH CH Slyfox Sneaks A Peek, was last year’s MCKC Group Three, and is this year’s Number One Terrier so far, with 15 all breed Bests and 47 Terrier Groups.

The American Staffordshire Terrier, GCH CH Castle Rock's SBigStaff Mad About You, is the defending MCKC BIS winner. This year she has amassed 13 Bests In Show & 50 Terrier Group top prizes.

(Photo by Infocusbymiguel)

The Number Three Terrier is the Wire Fox Terrier, GCH CH Steele Your Heart. Eira has collected most of her twelve BIS this year during the last 100 days, including this past weekend’s big Kanadasaga Kennel Club show in Romulus NY.

Our Number Four Terrier is the Skye Terrier, GCH CH Cragsmoor Buddy Goodman. Buddy has been the most concistent Terrier in the country this year with an incredible 92 Terrier Group Firsts in just nine months. Buddy enters the week after collecting back2back BIS at the Hot Springs National Park (AR) Kennel Club’s two shows.

Rounding out our Top Five Terriers is another AmStaff, GCH CH Alpine’s Highwayman. Jelly has built up a head of steam going into the big Terrier week, winning three of his eight BIS and six of his 33 Terrier Groups in the last 30 days.

If you are within a tank of gas of Philadelphia this week we encourage you take in the Montgomery County Kennel Club show. You waon’t find a better collection of the Terriers anywhere.

NUMBER EIGHT

NUMBER NINE

NUMBER TEN

SHOW INFO

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The author has been attending dog shows as a spectator and exhibitor for over 45 years. He is a retired management consultant who has advised multiple organizations affiliated with the AKC and the Cat Fanciers Association on business management, long range planning, customer service, and legislative matters. After 25 years of living in the big cities of New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC, he now resides in his hometown of Memphis, TN.

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